Syria: Landmines, Explosive Remnants Harming Civilians - Report by HRW

Human Rights Watch, a founding member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), has published "Syria: Landmines, Explosive Remnants Harming Civilians" detailing the devastating impact of these weapons across the country. The findings clearly demonstrate how urgent and critical risk education has become in preventing civilian casualties, particularly as displaced populations return to contaminated areas.

Unfortunately, risk education has suffered significant setbacks due to recent US aid cuts to mine action support programs. These funding reductions come at a particularly dangerous moment, as the report highlights how civilian casualties have substantially increased since December 2024, largely driven by population movements of displaced people returning home.

In response to both this funding crisis and the humanitarian emergency, the ICBL has initiated contact with Syria's current government with the aim of inviting them to join the Mine Ban Treaty. We are emphasizing the substantial benefits Syria would receive by becoming a State Party, including increased international technical assistance for demining operations and enhanced support for landmine victims from other treaty signatories. Such cooperation would be instrumental in addressing the "extraordinary countrywide contamination" described in the report.

The tragic stories documented by Human Rights Watch underscore that mine action, particularly risk education, clearance, and victim assistance, must be prioritized and properly funded to prevent further loss of life among Syria's civilian population.